MLA meets police over range of crime issues in the area

Local DUP MLA Sydney Anderson and colleague CllrJonathan Buckley recently met with the PSNI Area District Commander David Moore to discuss a range of issues across the local area.

Sydney Anderson MLA stated, “Our meeting gave us the opportunity to raise our serious concerns about the current policing structural changes from neighbourhood policing teams to the new local policing teams.

“In recent weeks we learnt that on average there will be one officer to serve approximately every 2,200 people. We received a detailed presentation on the current changes which was very informative.

“Following discussions with the police I will continue to monitor these new structures as we move forward to ensure that the community receives an adequate level of policing.

“In recent months figures have highlighted starkly the level of certain crimes which are occurring in the area with 453 drug related incidents reported across the Portadown, Craigavon, Lurgan, Banbridge and Gilford areas between May 2014 and May 2015.

“There were also over 4,500 incidents of anti-social behaviour reported across the same area between April 2014 and April 2015.

“We felt that it was worthwhile to meet with the PSNI to discuss further the range of actions they are committed to taking to tackle problems such as drug-related crime, anti-social behaviour, burglaries and rural crime.

“We made clear to them that more must be done to tackle these issues head on and that complacency must not be allowed to come into play.

“Whilst actions such as drug discoveries are welcome more must be done to eradicate the drug problem and to tackle other crimes that we have in our local communities.”

Cllr Buckley stated,“ It was important for myself and Sydney to meet with the PSNI to raise pressing issues such as these current structural changes.

“We also got the opportunity to discuss the evil that is animal cruelty. Recently we learnt about the disgraceful attack on Oscar the dog and we wanted to make the police aware that they must do all they can to assist the ABC Council in the fight against animal cruelty.

“ We are committed to liaising with the PSNI in the future as we continue to tackle the various types of criminal activity taking place throughout the ABC area.”